Pride events take place around the world all year round: they’re magical, joyous, colour-popping celebrations of freedom attended by members of the LGBT community and their allies. June — the official month of Pride — commemorates the 1969 Stonewall riots, when LGBT community members, led by black and Latin American trans activists, protested police raids and violence at gay bars in New York City. Today’s street festivals honour the uprising, which sparked a paradigm shift for gay rights that rippled around the globe — and we’ve found the best places to join in and celebrate in June and beyond.
A fifth of all visitors to this corner of Mexico’s Pacific coast are members of the LGBT community, according to official tourism figures released in 2017. Gay travellers have been visiting Puerto Vallarta since the 1960s and have dubbed Zona Romantica, where Vallarta Pride is held, the “gayborhood”. Nearby is Elixir Mixology, a lesbian-owned bar and safe space for queer women.
Dates May 22-28, 2024
Where to stay Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa is a gay-friendly hotel with a striking beachfront pool.
Drag queens in Key West’s 801 Bourbon Bar (Getty Images)
2. Key West, US
The Florida “Don’t Say Gay” law won’t stop the southern tip of the state from celebrating Key West Pride Week and its motto is “One Human Family”. Key West is best for partygoers; the queer nightlife is unadulterated with gay dance clubs and women-only bars, and there are permanent rainbow pedestrian crossings at Duval and Petronia streets in the LGBT entertainment district.
Dates June 7-11
Where to stay Equator Resort is a men-only, clothing-optional resort near Duval Street.
equatorresort.com
• Best things to do in Florida
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (Alamy)
3. Sydney, Australia
The Aussies know how to party in style — and the best place to join them is the capital of New South Wales. As part of Sydney WorldPride, you can dip in and out of everything from pool parties and parades to sporting events over a couple of weeks of festivities.
Dates February 16-March 3, 2024
Where to stay 57 Hotel has single and shoebox rooms that are perfect for solo travellers heading to Pride alone. The Oxford Street gayborhood is a 15-minute walk away.
A busload of Pride in West Hollywood (Getty Images)
4. West Hollywood, US
Los Angeles hosted one of the first Pride demonstrations in the US, at the Black Cat in Silver Lake in 1967, along with the world’s first permitted gay rights parade in 1970. Annual events have continued since. Join the fun at the family-friendly WeHo Pride Weekend, with a parade taking place on the Sunday.
Dates June 7-9, 2024
Where to stay Kimpton La Peer Hotel is a block away from the buzz of Rainbow Row.
Pride in Chicago (Getty Images)
5. Chicago, US
Music lovers find their beat at Chicago Pride Fest and Pride in the Park, which feature performances by globally renowned artists and a huge firework display. Don’t miss the dazzling Pride Parade, which usually attracts over a million people and takes place a week later.
Dates June 17-18 and June 23-24
Where to stay Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel is steps from Pride in the Park — Radisson Hotel Group Americas was designated a “Best place to work for LGBTQ+ equality” by the Human Rights Campaign in 2022.
6. Madrid, Spain
Spain has been celebrating the LGBT community with Pride parades since 1977 and its capital hosts the MADO Madrid Orgullo in the Chueca gay neighbourhood. Come party with popular DJs and drag queens during the last week of June and first week of July. The highlight is the annual Pride parade with spectacular floats from Atocha Station to Plaza de Colon.
Dates June 23-July 2
Where to stay Close to the action at adult-only Axel Hotel Madrid.
Jojo Matthews, seven, of South Portland, under the Pride flag (Getty Images)
7. Portland, US
Portland is one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in the US and it buzzes with drag events, gay dance clubs, sports leagues, community organisations and dozens of LGBT-owned businesses. It was also the first major city to elect an openly gay mayor, Sam Adams, in 2008. Plan your visit to coincide with the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade with performances by Portland’s Gay Men’s Chorus.
Dates July 15-16
Where to stay Hotel Zags for the “Drags at Zags’’ brunch painting parties.
• Best affordable hotels in Portland
Big names at Pride in London (Alamy)
8. London, England
London continues to host the UK’s largest LGBT gathering — Pride in London — with a parade scheduled for the first Saturday in July. The event is family-friendly, with dedicated areas for those bringing children. Set up around the city are different stages where live performances will take place throughout the day.
Date July 1
Where to stay Courthouse Hotel London provides epic views of the celebrations.
The Christopher Street Day Pride Parade in Berlin (Alamy)
9. Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Europe’s most gay-friendly city, hosts the Christopher Street Day Pride Parade — celebrated since 1979. It’s held in front of the Victory Column and is perfect for people-watching. The Dyke March and afterparties are also incredible. This is an unforgettable annual Pride celebration.
Date July 22
Where to stay The queer-friendly Mercure Berlin Wittenbergplatz makes for a handy base.
Pride in Stockholm (Alamy)
10. Stockholm, Sweden
EuroPride has been held in Sweden three times in three decades while Run For Pride takes place each year in Stockholm’s Haga Park. There’s also Stockholm Pride: the largest Pride celebration in Scandinavia, with 500,000 attendees. You can head to Pride Park for music, artists, and nightly parties as well as plenty of family-orientated activities. And this year, the Pride event is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Dates July 31-August 5
Where to stay Backstage Hotel Stockholm is in the same building as the wonderful ABBA The Museum.
• Best things to do in Stockholm
Cheddar Gorgeous and TeTe Bang host the candlelit vigil at Pride In Manchester (Getty Images)
11. Manchester, England
The Manchester Pride Festival charity event is held over the August bank holiday weekend and includes a parade, candlelight vigil and live music in the gay village. Most of the event is adults-only and perfect for partygoers but the Youth Pride Parade is a family-friendly event.
Dates August 25-28
Where to stay Hotel Brooklyn is centrally located in the Gay Village.
• Best free things to do in Manchester
On the March for Diversity in Montevideo (Getty Images)
12. Montevideo, Uruguay
Uruguay is the most LGBT-friendly country in Latin America; same-sex relations have been legal since 1934 with more progressive legislation added consistently for nearly a century. Annual Pride demonstrations have taken place in Montevideo since the 1990s. The family-friendly Marcha por la Diversidad (March for Diversity), is a demonstration with over 30,000 people taking to the streets, including local candombe drumming groups.
Date September 29
Where to stay You’ll be close to the action at the Rambla at SORO Montevideo, Curio Collection by Hilton.
Pride in Taipei (Getty Images)
13. Taipei, Taiwan
The first place in East Asia to legalise gay marriage hosts an extraordinary Pride celebration at the end of October each year. If you can, time your trip for the Taiwan LGBT Pride Parade, which starts at Taipei City Hall Square and ends at Ketagalan Avenue. There’s also a Trans March. The capital city Taipei is nicknamed the “San Francisco of the East” and everyone is welcome.
Date October 28
Where to stay Hotel Midtown Richardson in Ximending is a cosy hotel in the gayborhood.
Pride in Cape Town (Getty Images)
14. Cape Town, South Africa
South Africa, a relatively safe destination for LGBT travellers in Africa, was the first country in the world to include a sexual orientation protection clause in its constitution. Head to Cape Town for Cape Town Pride, with events taking place over the course of a month.
Dates March 2024
Where to stay The Alphen Boutique Hotel & Spa is known for being LGBT-friendly.
• Best things to do in Johannesburg
Take me there
Inspired to be part of Pride but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Virgin Holidays and Expedia
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